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Chapter 506 - 218. Someone has to win_2

Chapter 506: 218. Someone has to win_2

The crucial Game 7 battle saw Rondo achieve a triple-double, becoming the third rookie in NBA history to do so in the playoffs after Big O and Magic!

Despite moments of scoring only two points, a Game 7 triple-double overshadowed all his previous poor performances.

During an interview, Celtics’ general manager Danny Ainge said, "We wanted to pick Rondo, but the Bobcats grabbed him first."

When Rondo saw this report, he shuddered with relief. Lucky to have been snatched away!

Playing for a team tanking for Oden was something he couldn’t even bear to think about!

He had a senior named Keith Bogans, the second-ranked high school player in America in ’99, picked by the Bucks in 2003 right after they lost Payton. That season, they tanked, and Bogans had a frustrating rookie year. In his sophomore year, he was picked up by the newly-formed Bobcats and broke down again; when the Bobcats improved in his third year, he, having played four years in college and entering the NBA at 23, had wasted two critical development years by the time he was 25. He didn’t fit into the Bobcats’ team-building plans...

Just tanking one year set the Celtics back so much that Pierce even thought about leaving, and they didn’t secure a top-three draft pick. Can you blame Rondo for being scared afterward?

...

The outside world was noisy. On the Bobcats’ side, the afternoon after they won the Eastern Conference finals, they started preparing for the Finals.

As the later qualifiers, the Bobcats had only two days of rest after the Eastern finals and had to hurry their preparations. Bickerstaff allowed only a morning’s rest for the players.

But the Bobcats’ players did not complain and were actively involved in the preparation.

Felton had Rondo, Derek Anderson, Okafor, and Zhang Yang— who was at home watching a Spurs’ second-round game video—come to the stadium at 10 a.m. to watch the video and discuss analysis together.

The afternoon’s preparation involved only two training sessions and one tactical simulation practice.

After training, Felton complained to the others, "Our preparation training isn’t very targeted, is it? It’s even less specific than our own discussions!"

Rondo: "Yes, it feels about the same as our regular season preparation against the Spurs."

Having said that, the two looked at Okafor, meaning it was his turn.

Okafor looked towards Zhang Yang, meaning that Ben Duncan doesn’t talk behind people’s backs.

Zhang Yang did gossip: "I think, maybe the coaches didn’t expect us to make it to the Finals, so they weren’t prepared. They’re letting us practice to change up the rhythm, maybe tomorrow morning’s training will be different."

Okafor nodded, "Jack’s thinking is the same as mine."

After thinking a bit, Felton said, "Then let’s each go home and think about what we did well or poorly against the Spurs, don’t stay up late, get some sleep, and meet at the stadium at 8 a.m. We’ll start with a meeting to analyze!"

Zhang Yang looked at the now more authoritative little chubby boss, Felton, and gave him a thumbs up behind his back.

With such a leader, who takes on the grunt work and trouble actively, Zhang San could happily be his scorer.

No wonder Ben Wallace was often voted as the ’Most Popular Inside Partner’ in multiple player surveys...

On the Bobcats’ coaches’ side, after training, they gathered for a chat.

Bickerstaff: "Rick, Randy, think about how we’re going to play against the Spurs tonight. Come to the stadium early tomorrow and let me know your thoughts."

Carlisle nodded in agreement, then asked with uncertainty, "Bernie, we have the Finals the day after tomorrow, and we’re deciding how to play just tomorrow morning?"

Bickerstaff: "After the Suns were out, I prepared some Spurs game data, but didn’t plan the preparation. Until yesterday, I wasn’t even sure we could make it to the Finals, so how could I prepare for it... were you thinking of strategies for each playoff round right at the start of the playoffs?"

Zhang Yang and Okafor guessed right...

Carlisle just wanted to respond with ’Of course,’ but stopped himself in time.

He recalled that this legendary coach indeed isn’t much for long-term planning; during the Eastern finals, it was only after G1 that they spotted weaknesses in Saunders’ strategies in G1 and formulated an extreme risky strategy.

Bickerstaff also fell silent. He remembered their team’s new advisor, who in his first year of coaching achieved 50 wins, ranked second in the East, and was named Best Coach. Heading into the playoffs, he was definitely aiming for the championship. Moreover, as a player, he was in the 1980s dynasty Celtics, and as an assistant coach, he was under championship coaches like Bill Fitch and Sloan—his vision, scope, and ambition were much higher than Bickerstaff’s.

The overtime arrangements had ended. Bickerstaff ended the casual chat and went home to work overtime.

He didn’t want to be a head coach anymore primarily because he didn’t want to work late at his age, but having reached the Finals, he was motivated to put in extra hours!

Although the outside world generally wasn’t optimistic about them, he didn’t care. Of the series he had won, how many times had he been the favorite?

Carlisle also left with a bunch of videos in high spirits for the parking lot.

He hadn’t expected that merely being persuaded by owner Joe’s seven visits to check out Charlotte would result in him seeing the chance-less Bobcats win the Eastern Conference and reach the Finals of his dreams!

Then, last night in his excitement, he unwittingly signed a contract with Jordan, obtaining an official position in the coaching staff.